5/24/2011 4:30 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

In his statement Busch says , "I was test driving a new sports car and I got carried away. I went beyond the speed I should have been going on a public road. I
apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack
of judgment."

The NASCAR bad boy was driving a Lexus LFA when cops in Troutman, NC pulled him over today ... doing 128 mph in a 45 mph zone. BTW ... the LFA packs about 552 horses!

Busch added, "I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again."